Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: Job Description
Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.
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What Tasks Do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers cover:
- Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
- Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
- Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
- Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
- Write test or inspection reports describing results, recommendations, or needed repairs.
- Recommend necessary corrective actions, based on inspection results.
- Read dials or meters to verify that equipment is functioning at specified levels.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Abrasive Grader
- Acid Tester
- Air Box Tester
- Air Conditioning Unit Tester (AC Unit Tester)
- Air Sampler
- Air Value Tester
- Aircraft Instrument Tester
- Aircraft Launching and Arresting Systems Inspector
How Many Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Are There?
There are about 162,321 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,864 |
| Hourly median | $20.61 |
| 10th percentile | $27,469 |
| 25th percentile | $35,166 |
| 75th percentile | $50,562 |
| 90th percentile | $58,260 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $98,800 |
| District of Columbia | $70,030 |
| Wyoming | $59,930 |
| Maryland | $58,710 |
| Washington | $58,450 |
| Montana | $57,520 |
| Colorado | $56,370 |
| Kansas | $55,930 |
| Hawaii | $54,800 |
| Connecticut | $54,230 |
| Delaware | $53,110 |
| Minnesota | $52,390 |
| Oregon | $52,170 |
| Rhode Island | $51,810 |
| New Hampshire | $51,450 |
| North Dakota | $51,340 |
| Missouri | $50,740 |
| Arizona | $50,620 |
| California | $50,430 |
| Nebraska | $50,430 |
| Oklahoma | $50,110 |
| Louisiana | $50,080 |
| Massachusetts | $50,060 |
| Nevada | $49,050 |
| Wisconsin | $49,020 |
| West Virginia | $49,020 |
| Iowa | $48,940 |
| New Jersey | $48,850 |
| New York | $48,790 |
| Vermont | $48,740 |
| New Mexico | $48,510 |
| Utah | $48,000 |
| Virginia | $47,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,540 |
| Illinois | $47,040 |
| Maine | $47,000 |
| Indiana | $46,990 |
| Guam | $46,990 |
| South Dakota | $46,430 |
| Florida | $46,360 |
| Ohio | $46,220 |
| Kentucky | $45,470 |
| Tennessee | $44,860 |
| South Carolina | $44,840 |
| Georgia | $44,020 |
| North Carolina | $44,020 |
| Texas | $43,790 |
| Michigan | $42,440 |
| Idaho | $42,120 |
| Arkansas | $41,570 |
| Virgin Islands | $41,110 |
| Mississippi | $39,580 |
| Alabama | $39,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,110 |
Where Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Earn the Most
Earnings for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $51,792 | 14.1% | 0.86 |
| Plains States | $51,729 | 7.5% | 1.13 |
| New England | $51,387 | 4.5% | 0.99 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,180 | 2.8% | 0.85 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,117 | 10.4% | 0.76 |
| Great Lakes | $46,072 | 22.0% | 1.56 |
| Southwest | $45,387 | 12.4% | 1.00 |
| Southeast | $44,550 | 25.7% | 1.20 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $89,040 | 80 |
| Lake Charles, LA | LA | $85,920 | 450 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | CT | $73,520 | 940 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $69,100 | 80 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $69,010 | 200 |
| Billings, MT | MT | $68,000 | 170 |
| Wichita, KS | KS | $67,880 | 3,360 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $66,410 | 90 |
Top Industries Employing Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
The bulk of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 377,260 | $48,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 51,330 | $37,560 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 49,950 | $50,300 |
| Wholesale Trade | 35,390 | $46,400 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 23,200 | $48,620 |
| Retail Trade | 9,870 | $41,260 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 9,080 | $37,430 |
| Construction | 6,450 | $58,930 |
Below are examples of industries where inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers work:
Tools and Technology
- Data base management system software: Apache Hive (hot technology)
- Content workflow software: Atlassian JIRA (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Typical inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping (Primary-Long)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Primary-Long)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Supplemental)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers typically earn programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9061.00 (Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers).
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